The "Era of the Family Car" started in 1966. It was in November of that year that the first Corolla — aimed at the Japanese general public — rolled onto the market to much fanfare. In the 47 years since, the Corolla has continued to evolve thanks to a philosophy of "always staying ahead of the times."

Today, with a total production of 40 million vehicles and sales in more than 150 countries and regions, the Toyota Corolla has been recognized as "The World's Most Popular Car"

The birth of a worldwide Corolla was made possible thanks to innovative thinking, technology and managerial decision-making that went on behind the scenes at Toyota Motor Corporation. All of these comprise the evolving elements of the "Corolla DNA," which has been passed down from generation to generation within the Toyota Motor Corporation.

Let's look back at the original concepts that were calculated to make the first Corolla a success.